Can-labeling machine



A. P. EKVALL AND H. STAKE. CAN LABELING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED A PR.24, I919.

1,327,465. Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- I; 2" E 1 E N N WWW d/ L/CZ;

A. P. EKVALL AND H. STAKE. CAN LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

rmrr SA PATENT CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed April 24, 1919. Serial No. 292,401.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARvID P. EKVALL and HERMAN STAKE, both citizens of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county of l/Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can-labeling machines of that class wherein adhesive material is primarily applied to the surface of the can, rolling along a run-way and across a pack of labels, the top label of which is designed to be picked up by adhesion of the first end of the label to the primarily gummed surface in well known manner, and

V the latter end of the label rendered adhesive by gum applied thereto by a gum-applying member having a forward and backward movement, and adapted to receive gum from a gum-delivering means and to contact with the rear end portion of the label as the latter is wound upon the rolling can.

' applying member.

In the operation of can-labeling machines in which the lap-end gumming element has, after its gumming cont-act, a backward movement longitudinal of the run-way, it occasionally happens that the rolling can fails to pick up the first end of the label, and in that event it has heretofore been found that the retreating movement of the lap-end gum-applying member will, by its unbroken adhesion, draw the uabel'endwise rearward from the label-box onto the gumdelivering devices, and double it up with the next forward movement of the gum- Although this derangement is not of frequent occurrence, it is a source of some annoyance and delay when it does occur, since the machine must be stopped and'the displaced label removed therefrom before further regular operation is possible. Therefore the desirability and utility of an efficient means for obviating this objection will be appreciated by any one conversant with the art.

More particularly our present invention relates to an improvement applicable to the lapend gumming devices, and in combination with the several parts of the labeling machine, as more fully hereinafter described; the object being to prevent a label being drawn from the pack rearward, in the event of its not being primarily picked up by the can. 7

A further object is to provide, in combinaguards 16.

movement, from the tion with a gum-applying member and ourler-bar, of means located intermediate those parts for releasing or surface of the label from the face of the lap-end gum-applying member.

In the accompanying drawings, (two sheets) Figure 1 represents such'parts of a can-labeling machine as will illustrate our invention and the relative arrangement thereof in combination with other parts of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top-plan view, on somewhat larger scale, showing a lapend gumming mechanism embodying our invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at line X X'on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents the rear side and top of'the' stripper-bar detached from the machine, and Fig. 5 is a face view of the gum-applying member.

As illustrated in the drawings, this invention is applied to a can-labeling machine in which the lap-end gum-applying member has a lifting and approximately longitudinal backward movement, after its gumming contact with the label, the gummer operating mechanism being of the kind set forth in Letters Patent No. 1,268,442, granted June 1-, 1918, to which reference may be had fora more extended description of the operating parts and action of the gum-supplying means.

Referring table or bed frame. The letter R indicates the runway along which the cans C are rolled in well known manner, by the aid of overlying propeller belts B running on revolving pulleys 13*; the cans being directed in alinement with the label-supply by side Numeral 13 indicates the primary. gumming mechanism for placing adhesive substance, gum, paste or glue, upon the surface of the can as it passes over the same.-

10 indicates the box or supporterfor the supply pack of labels L, which is positioned in alinement with,'and for keepingthe top of the pack approximately level with the tracks 15 of the run-way. 17 indicates the to the drawings, 1 indicates the final gum-supply reservoir; 2 the gum-de-.

livery-roll; 3 a gum'transfer roll and a scraper meansfor regulating the quantity of gum delivered, all substantially 'as heretofore employed. c y

5 indicates the gum-applying member, arranged to have a backward and forward position shown 1n full lines on Figs. 1 and 2, to the position indi- Pal ing the the can cated by dotted lines 5*, taking a film of gum from the transfer-roll 3 and moving into contact with the end portion of the toplabel on the pack L, by the tilting bar 6 and swinging action of the supporting levers 8 and 9, or any suitable means whereby approximately similar reciprocative action is imparted to the gum-applying member 5.

7 indicates a straight bar or curler-rot supported in bearings or openings on the sides of the label-box, and is best arranged to be freely rotatable when a label is drawn upward against the same, for curling the end thereof inward. Said bar or red also serves a stop or rest for gaging the level of the top of the pack.

At the back of the curler-rod 7, in close relation thereto and adjacent to the edge of the gum-applying member 5, when at foremost limitof its action, we provide a bar or plate 20 rigidly secured in or upon the frame. or side of the label-box at 21, and extending transversely across the labels; but preferably at a short distance above the top surfaceof the pack, which rests against the curlerrod 7 a limiting stop (see Fig. for the upward action by the elevator means. Said stationary bar 'is' best indentedly combined with the gunrapplying alate 5, the bar being provided with rearwardly projecting detents, prongs or fingers 23, while the front edge of the gum-applying member 5 is provided with. countermatching recesses 25 of suflicient capacity to freely accommodate the entrance of said fingers thereinto when the gummed face of the gum-applying member 5 is brought into contact with the label. See full lines 1 and 2.) The space between the member 5 and bar 7 is made sufficient for their ample clearance; and their. relative positions are such that the label is positively released from the gummed surface of the member 5 as the latter commences its upward and rearward movement.

Any approved means may be employed in connection with the standard 11 for elevatpack of labels, to cause the top of the pack to normally rest against the rod 7, which latter being positioned slightly lower than the bar 20 maintains the top of the pack at proper level in respect to the tracks 15, and'also affords a limited spaceEZ, of say three thirty-seconds of an inch, more or less, between the pack and. the under side of the istripperebar 20; thus insuringa free action forthe pulling out and curling of the end of the topmost label as it is wound upon in theregular act of labeling.

: One end ofthe stripper bar is fixed at 21, While its opposite end is inserted through an opening in the side of the frame or labelfbOX, as at 26, andfthereby supported. In f some instances, thefront side of the'label-box for different where itis desired to adjust along said run-way,

widths of labels, the bar 20 may be made with an extended end, as per dotted lines Fig. 4c; the extension being suflicient for the widest adjustment without releasing the bar from its bearing opening 26. The number of detents or fingers 23 upon the bar 20 may be made more or less, as in any instance desired.

In the operation of the machine, the bar 20 positively releases or strips each label from'the gummed face of the gum-applying member 5, consequently if for any reason, such as the exhaustion or weakness of the primary gum, or from other cause, the can fails to pick up the first end of a label, no derangement of the label occurs by a rearward draft of an adhering gumming member, but the can simply goes through the machine without a label and the label simply remains in proper place for being taken up by the next succeeding can; the machine continuing to run without requiring its stopping; since the only irregular effect is merely a duplicate application of gum upon the end of the skipped label.

In this specification the terms gum and gumming are intended to include as an,

equivalent the use of glue, paste, mucilage, or any suitable adhesive substance such as employed on machines of the class named, for sticking or attaching labels upon cans or the like.

We claim and Patent 1. In a labeling machine, in combination with a label holder, a run-way for rolling cans over and along said label holder, and a lap-end gumming mechanism including a gum-applying member that contacts with the rear portion of the upper label, and has backward and upward movement in retrea ing therefrom, of means for stripping or separating the gummed surface of the label from. the face of said um-applying members, substantially set forth.

2. In a can-labeling machine, in combination with the label-supply holder, a lap-' end gumming means including a backwardly and forwardly moving gum-applier, a transversely disposed rod or curler member that determines the relative level of the gum-receiving top label upon said holder, and an adjacent means indentedly matching with said gum applier for positively disengagingthe label from the gummed face thereof, whereby backward displacement of the label by adhesion to the retreating gum applier is prevented when the front end of the label fails to be picked up by the advancing can.

3. In a labeling machine for the purpose specified, including" a runway for rolling cans or the like, means; forpropelling cans means for primarily applying glue to the surface of the can, a label-holder for supportinga pack of labels desire to secure by Letters over which the can rolls for taking a label therefrom, a reciprocally moving gumming member that applies gum by contact with the lap-end of the top label upon the pack; and a stripper-bar arranged across the labelholder above the packand positioned adjacent to the edge of the gum-applying memher at its forward limit of its action, said bar having rearward projections that eX- tend into recesses formed in said gum-applying member.

at. In a cam-labeling machine, comprising a label-supply support, a primary gumming means, and a run-way for rolling cans over said gunnning means and label-supply support, a lap-end gumming mechanism including a recessed gum-applying member having reciprocal oscillative movements in longitudinal relation to the run-way and label support, and adapted to contact with the lap-end of the topmost label, a freely rotatable curler-rod disposed across the label-pack near the forward position of the gum-applying member, and a stationary stripper-bar arranged slightly ;above the surface of the label pack and positioned between said curler-rod and gum-applying member, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a can-labeling machine of the character described, the combination, of a labelsupply holder, a curler-rod, a backward and forwardly moving gum-applying memher having an upward retractive movement; and means located between said curler-rod and gum-applying member. adapted to contact with the label and strip the gummed end thereof from the gum-applying surface, for preventing endwise rearward displacement of the label by adhesion to said gum-apply ing member.

6. In a can-labeling machine of the class described, in combination with the labelsupply holder, a lap-end gum-applying member adapted for printing adhesive substance upon the end portion of the label, a stationary transversely disposed stripperbar cooperating therewith adjacent to the foremost limit of said gum-applying member, said stripper-bar positioned above the labels, and means arranged at lower level adjacent to said stripper-bar, for preventing the pack of labels from crowding against said stripper-bar.

'7. In a can-labeling machine of the class described, the combination with the labelsupporting means carrying the supply pack of labels, the reciprocally moving gumapplying member, and a transversely disposed curler-rod, of a bar or plate arranged above the label pack adj acently between the curler-bar and the forward edge position of the gum-applying member, and cooperating therewith for retention of the label as the gum-applying member is retracted, said stripper-bar being normally out of contact with, but near the top of the pack of labels.

8. In a can-labeling machine of the character described, the combination of a labelsupply holder, a transversely disposed curler-rod extending across the latter part of said label holder above the labels, a reciprocally moving gum-applying member that delivers gum upon the lap-end of the label, and a transverse downwardly faced stripper-bar adjacent the front portion of gum-receiving position, and said bar provided with rearwardly projecting prongs or fingers that enter corresponding recesses formed in the gum-applying member.

9. In a can-labeling machine, in combination with a label-holder boX, a reciprocally moving gum-applying member having recesses in the forward edge thereof, of a stripper-bar provided with rearward projecting fingers, and having at one end an attaching head or means for its rigid attachment to the label-holder frame, and its opposite end extended for insertion through a bearing opening in the front side of the label-holder box.

Witness our hands this 23rd day of April,

ARVID P. EKVALL. HERMAN STAKE. 

